WTAM Local News

A piece of Cleveland's history is open today

(Cleveland) -- A piece of Cleveland's transportation history is open to the public Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It's the annual Veterans Memorial Bridge and Subway Station Tour, giving you an opportunity to see where electric streetcars ran as they crossed over the Cuyahoga River, at least until they stopped 59 years ago.

Cuyahoga County Public Works Director Bonnie Teeuwen tells WTAM 1100 this is a rare glimpse for the general public of where streetcars ran on the lower level of the bridge as they crossed from West 25th and Detroit over toward Public Square. Part of the experience includes seeing the actual subway stop on the west side, which was the last stop for the streetcars before they went under the bridge.

You can walk the entire length of the bridge underneath, and then Teeuwen suggests a walk back on the top level to look at the public art along the upper level.

The lower level of the bridge was closed when Cleveland streetcars stopped running in 1954.

The free tour is self-guided. Teeuwen says there's free parking at the County Public Works office off West 25th Street north of Detroit Avenue.